Anyone Can Visit, Work, Or Reside In The World's First 'Visa-Free Zone' In Europe

With recent data reports and articles outlining the growth trend in numbers of Americans emigrating abroad — an upward curve that shows no sign of slowing down — hearing about a "visa-free" spot in Europe is 21st-century gold dust. Somewhere to visit or move without the red tape of visas? Sounds too good to be true. Enter Svalbard, the Arctic archipelago that's part of Norway but is said to be the only zone in the world that's completely free of immigration visas.

The snowy islands are approximately 580 miles north of Norway and 650 miles below the North Pole, so expect bracingly cold to freezing weather and some exciting local visitors — along with the 2,100 people who currently live on Svalbard's biggest island, Spitsbergen, polar bears are famously in residence, too. A 100-minute flight links Longyearbyen, a town on Spitsbergen, with the mainland's classy west coast city of Tromso, which was known as the Paris of Norway in its heyday. Spitsbergen is the only human-populated island in the visa-free zone, a former mining and whaling station where scientific research and tourism are now the main way of life. So, why visit Svalsbard, and just how can anyone live and work indefinitely there, no matter their country of origin?

So if the visa-free land sounded too good to be true, here's the catch: You can only enter Svalbard via Norway, and Norway does require a Schengen visa, which means that you'll need a multiple-entry Schengen visa to get to Svalbard, even though the islands themselves simply ask you to be holding a valid passport to enter. But don't let that crush your Arctic dreams. Svalbard's an easy place to fly to, with regular direct flights leaving from Oslo. It's also a great place to book yourself on nature-watching boat trips to look for walruses, whales, polar bears, and more.

Svalbard is one of the Arctic's most magical destinations to experience "polar night" – the winter phenomenon that occurs in the Arctic (and Antarctic) Circle where the sun remains below the horizon for over 24 hours, giving visitors completely dark skies all day. As you can imagine, this is prime time for spotting the northern lights, aka the aurora borealis. Svalbard's polar night starts in mid November and runs through late January, but does see glimpses of purple light around midday. If stargazing, borealis spotting, and a whole lot of darkness isn't a priority for you, aim for the summer months.

The archipelago is also a marvelous destination for thrill-seekers – skiing, dog-sledding, biking, and ATV riding trips are readily available to book through the tourism board or platforms such as Tripadvisor, while ice bathing and sauna await you afterwards.

While it is true that non-Norwegians may live and work in Svalbard indefinitely, regardless of citizenship, there are a few caveats. According to Nordic Co-operation, it's essential to line up a job or study program there before you relocate, as long-term accommodation is usually tied to the employer or college, who own the limited properties. It's also necessary to find a job to meet Svalbard's strict financial requirements; you'll need proof of income to show you can support yourself, and no social welfare programs are available.

Aside from the job situation, there's something else to know before packing your boxes and relocating to Svalbard: There are so many polar bears living on Spitsbergen that you can't venture beyond Longyearbyen without a rifle. Or if you're not a rifle owner, you must be with a guide who is. The polar bears outnumber humans and are a part of Svalbard life. Also, a quirky fact to know is that no one is permitted to be born or die on Svalbard, so don't get sick, or pregnant.

Wondering what residents of Svalbard do in their free time? The cultural calendar in Longyearbyen is surprisingly packed full of annual festivals and concerts that are a mainstay of life on the archipelago — did someone say Polar Jazz? Sign us up!